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Grazing animals are basically walking and breathing seeders. They eat seeds from plants as they graze, and these seeds pass through their digestive system into their feces. Generally it takes anywhere from 24 to 36 hours for a seed to pass throw a ruminant animal. Once deposited in the feces, they either stay there and get worked into the ground by decomposers that go in to the feces and break them down into the soil, and/or get trampled in by the "hoof action" of the animal. (The latter most likely happens with bison and cattle, because they make large pats that are more easily stepped in than the little solid droppings made by elk, sheep, goats, and deer.) The manure already gives the seed enough nutrient to use (as well as other plants already existing in the area), so all that's needed is heat and moisture to germinate and begin growth. This is how seeds from one area can be moved to another area and become established, thanks to the movements of grazing herbivores.
Grass seeds are less likely to survive the microbial activity and gastric juices of the ruminant's gastro-intestinal tract than harder-coated seeds like with most legumes (alfalfa, cicer milkvetch, or sainfoin, just to name a few) and other broad-leaved plants (forbs), but there is a chance that grass seeds can be established in the manure of grazing animals like bison, elk, cattle, sheep, and even goats and deer (let's not forget passing birds either).
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Why do they have thisles in the prairis?
thistles stop plants from being eaten by grazing animals, which the plants dont "want".
How do plants become habitats for animals?
Plants become habitats for animals by giving energy for animals
How do plants affect the savanna?
Provide food for grazing animals and hold the soil in place
How does grazing affect competition in plant?
Grazing reduces competition in plants because the ones that survive are the ones that the animals have not eaten. The ones that are left don't need to be as competitive because there are less plants.
Why do plants and animals do not become fossils?
why do you think many animals and plants did not become fossils
How do grazing of animals affect forests?
Overgrazing of animals leads to the decrease in number of plants. In this way , many tress are lost.
What would happen if gracing animals in the tundra will the tundra become overpopulated?
I'm sorry, but I think you messed up your question. And I think you meant 'grazing animals', but whatever. If you did mean grazing and this is the question you meant to say then good. What would happen if the tundra became overpopulated with grazing animals? Well, if that's your question then heres the answer. The tundra doesnt have many plants, so I don't think there would be a huge difference, but some animals would die because of the very few plants the tundra does have being trampled by the grazing animals.
Why do most plants and animals do not become fossils?
why do you think many animals and plants did not become fossils
What type of organisms are always producers?
Producers are organisms like green plants, which produce organic compounds from inorganic compounds. The plants are then eaten by consumers like the grazing animals. Plants are known as the primary producers.
How did photosynthesis lead the development of animals living on land?
Photosynthesis allowed plants to spread over the earth, which enabled grazing animals to feed anywhere that plants could be found.
How did photosynthesis lead to the development of animals living on land?
Photosynthesis allowed plants to spread over the earth, which enabled grazing animals to feed anywhere that plants could be found.
What kind of adaptation are thorns?
Thorns are a defensive adaptation of plants against being eaten by grazing animals.
